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Mine seems to have made it worse 🫤 I’ve tried to refit it multiple times, but had enough for tonight now, so will see if it beds in. I left it for 30 mins, but soon as I nudged filter it purged loads off air, then I had to keep slanting it to remove more air. Will see if it improves 🤞

Fair enough. I just think in terms of filtration, gaps cause the path of least resistance, and water will do its best to go around rather than through. I would try and plug it for filtration and (and you say) fish though.

Having used pressurised CO2 and had plenty of low energy non CO2 ,l will say you can have a successful aquarium without CO2, trick is to choose yor plants carefully,l like to have just two or three different species keep up with maintenance and water changes. I use soft water but if l didn't...

Dates clash terribly for me, else I’d have made the effort for this 😩

It isn't clear from this post, but looking at the FTS from her journal, the matten filter is very large, so the openings on the side are relatively small and probably won't affect much in terms of filtration. That said, I would also try to prevent any gaps and make it water tight for the sake...

Totally agree with this. In filtration terms, through - not around - is best.

Hi, no just a normal size, a bit chonky but not a giant. They do get giants in though, they had a couple in the last shipment 😀 No, just scape straight from the shop 🙌🏻

Down to x2 Filters now. Smashed my External earlier today, Was making a weird noise and no water coming out. So took it apart and serviced it. Snapped the impeller shaft and then dropped it so the housing cracked and the head went flying off and parts went everywhere. Only dropped it a few...

Also, wanted to add that depending on what method you are using to return water to the main body of the tank, any fish behind the mattenfilter might be at risk. If it is an air driven lift tube then it will be no worse than a fish equivalent of a rollercoaster ride, but a powerhead or other...

Sorry, I don’t think I’m explaining myself well. Let’s say you have pure RO water and you add a known amount of KH to the water to reach a specific hardness. You record the pH. If you then inject CO2 into the water until a pH drop of 1 is achieved, the concentration of CO2 in the water will be...

Hi all, I think you are right, but it because of the log10 nature of the pH scale. This what @Jose said <"Question about pressurised CO2 and water disturbance"> and <"my reply"> cheers Darrel

Hi all, I'm never going to be a CO2 user. cheers Darrel

Hi Stock 34l fluval flex. No CO2 Aquasoil substrate. Currently 2 weeks old and cycling. Started with 2 pots Pearlweed that im replanting tops. Stock light on 9hrs a day I intend to have cherry shrimp and maybe a small 6-12 shoal of Ember Tetras. Which TNC fert should I go for? Complete or...

Thanks, everyone! I suppose the final question is about C02. I seem to read everywhere that you will find it hard (especially as a plant newbie) to maintain healthy/growing plants without it. Some have said that trying to CO2 in the aquarium when aerating (surface agitation for 30 fish) is...

this is what I ment; the buffering effect strange :crazy:. I Always assumed that with a pH drop of 1 point, to obtain (approx) 30 ppm CO2, the KH is not relevant.

Hi all, Personally I wouldn't particularity try to match them, or worry too much about exact amounts. Agreed, it is <"if it ain't broke don't fix it"> argument for me. All the time you are happy with plant health and growth? I'd just carry on with APT1, at your normal dosing. If you aren't...

Hi all, You need @ian_m, @Jose, @hax47 or @Andy Pierce for a proper comment, but this should link in to a thread <"with an explanation"> - <"Quick question around co2">. If any-one really wants the inorganic chemistry? We have threads <"Gas-exchange experiments"> & <"CO2 concentration...

I used to have very bad BBA, but that started before I dosed iron, and I found when I dosed iron heavily & increased ferts overall BBA started reducing. For me I found the biggest way to combat BBA was to reduce organic waste, by thouroughly cleaning the external filter, and multiple cleans of...

This is incorrect (sort of). The ppm of dissolved CO2 and pH drop of water are not the same thing. CO2 will dissolve in the water, however the hardness of the water has a buffering affect on the pH meaning more CO2 is required to achieve the same pH drop than in softer water. The pH drop is...

I see this being brought up occasionally. I'm not sure, but I assume that it is false that the hard water makes a difference in CO2 dissolution. Of course, I would love to be reassured on this matter by someone with a more solid understanding of the chemical process. On the other hand, it is...

Thanks all for the responses so far. :thumbup: I have also read that when using hard water you need to add more CO2 to reach the desired pH (or ppm/ph drop). Is this not correct? :bookworm:

Great! I hope you see similar improvements that I did :)

I think long term you are going to have to think of a way to eliminate these gaps. If the tiny gaps are big enough for fish to swim through, they are big enough for water to bypass the filter. Which kind of defeats the object of having a mattenfilter. Usually the foam would be tight enough...

I'll be there too

People who are adding CO2 before lights on are aiming at having a constant CO2 concentration in the water throughout the entire photoperiod, which is when the plants feel the demand for CO2. Many people believe that a constant CO2 level during lights on is important for keeping plants happy...

I'll be attending for sure.

Hi all, Hope you're well! Ive also posted this in the planted tank discussion forum (hope that's ok!) just to maximise people who may see it and have advice. I noticed this morning that at least 1 chili rasbora and 1 pygmy corydoras had made their way behind the matten filter! There are tiny...

Often plants that die slowly are sold as easy plants. The scale of easy to difficult depends on the plant base that you are searching. I now grow plants that grow for me. Wife has the same philosophy with garden plants.

Hi all, Hope you're well! I have a 100l tank with a matten filter set up behind an egg crate moss wall. It's not siliconed to the tank, so that I can access for easy maintenance/easily rescape at a later date. I noticed this morning that at least 1 chili rasbora and 1 pygmy corydoras had...

In the 'why did I mess with it?' category, I think I was fine for iron and then got happy about it and started supplementing with Fe.EDDHSA. Now I'm noticing an increasing amount of BBA. There is some idea that excess iron can promote BBA which would obviously be a really bad thing. Anyone...

Check this series out for how simple it can be to set these up. Lucas is a bit of a funny character but there's some good info in these vids.

After our discussion at the UKAPS Horizon Aquatics event, I too have got this on order to try out, will let you all know how I get on

I have two old tanks, both around 300litres, made from 10mm glass which are outside but slightly protected by walls. One has been outside for 15 years through some bad winters and despite being frozen solid occasionally is still surviving. I use them for dapnia and have heen plagued by thread...

In addition to whatever iron is in my All-in-one, I am currently adding 0.5ppm DTPA iron per week. I am now looking at reducing this to 0.16ppm DTPA iron, and if that all works well, may eventually try only relying on iron in All-in-one.

The way the lava rock blends into the front looks much better now , great job!

Hi all, It isn't the alkalinity of the water in the tank that's relevant. That one. It is only the carbonate hardness of the <"4 dKH solution in the drop checker"> that matters. The base in solution (sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) etc.) is the <"proton acceptor">. Because the drop checker has...

You need to give actual tank dimensions for someone to help you.

Welcome aboard :)

The final version, just will add some green rotalas kn the right

Went to the waterfall today, plants in the pictures are Leptochilus pteropus “red” and Schismatoglottis sp. .

I thought maybe they'd just mis-understood my e-mail, but you're probably right!

I’m fairly sure my notion that there was an updated version was garnered from a comment on this forum somewhere? I think we can probably trust what Oase have said though.

... which suggests the pump cover has not in fact been updated.

Hi all, <"Taiwan Bee not so nano"> cheers Darrel

The water averages around 20 mg/l of nitrates which is fairly high, suggesting a lowland catchment including runoff from fertilisers used on farms. Would likely have some level of all other nutrients typically used in fertilizers, including macronutrients potassium and phosphorus. In fact they...

I used to have a 90cm wide tank and kept a group of six. Remember vividly how they used to dash frantically when startled at times, and I did loose a few due to head injury, hence my previous question about tank width. Pity I can't keep ottos in my current nano set-up; my tanks are less than...

The report does show iron, magnesium, nitrate and nitrite. It doesn't show phosphate as it's not a requirement to do so.

Well I got a reply, sadly it wasn't very helpful... "Thank you for contacting us regarding your BioMaster, the underside of the filter lid has changed, dependant when you purchased it you may have the new style lid, the main difference is the underside is now slightly concaved this encourages...

Thank you! It does look like very little surface movement right now considering there's a Biomaster 850 on it 😄, it was far more visible until recently when the floaters took over most of the surface. I do have a Aquario Neo Skimmer running attached to the outlet, this runs 24/7 and will be...

Hi All, Another question to ask about this aspect is to aid understanding. As most of you know, I have a low-tech no CO2 setup in a 100L aquarium, Biomaster filtration and java fern, crypts, trident and have moss. All green and (according to some suppliers easy!) As I have quite a lot of...

Solid scape mate, well done. The la plata makes all the difference 👍 Love those little erythromicron too.

Welcome to the forum 🤜🤛

Focus columbia. Thanks, its actually an old picture as that wall and the next one are now completely covered. One of these days I'll update the journal.

I didn't notice any issues with mine.

Hi John, Waterbox Aquariums are pulling out of the UK and have a 50% flash sale on - Limited stock but just in case as the prices are pretty decent IMHO. Looks like its just the Eden line that they have left. https://waterboxaquariums.co.uk/collections/on-sale I have a 3620 coming here at...

Sorry about your oto. Interestingly I have never had good experience in keeping otos as they have all died on me however I also keep the supposedly more difficult parotocinclus of which I have had great success so far. I wonder why me and most people I know dont have success with otos.

Here you go: https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/co2-2-hours-before-lights-turns-on-why.51367/

Two hours is roughly the time it takes for a drop checker to accurately represent the amount of dissolved CO2 in the water (assuming the CO2 level stays consistent throughout that 2 hours). Once your lights turn on, you can see if you have reached the correct amount of CO2. I think this has been...

I often read that you should start adding CO2 two hours before the lighting comes on. This has something to do with the carbonates that must first be saturated. my comment/questions: A: You can simply open the CO2 tap a little further. Then you will reach the desired ppm faster, right? B: if...

Yes Thierry! Glad to have you back sharing your scapes with us

Welcome! :)

Nice, just catching this thread. Congratulations being selected. That first was my favorite. It could maybe benefit from being a little less even on the top or having a contrasting direction if that is something that is still possible, or achievable with the plants. Maybe I'm just biased by...

What plant is that Iain? Is that your tank? Cool light shades!

Nice @FrozenShivers! Just for my understanding and learning, there is not a lot of surface agitation at all - no doubt to stop off-gassing to some degree. But you also don't have a tiny stock of fish - a fair few indeed. I wonder if I am doing too much surface agitation (and perhaps spooking...

Also, would not be suitable in the winter, when expanding ice would easily break the glass. You could have some kind of temporary feature though, in the warmer months. Plastic tubs are a more suitable material for outdoor mini ponds and the like.

You are welcome :D

Thanks for the advice :)

That's a huge difference in size, yeah the Viv one looks cracking. Thanks for posting.

You could use it as a basis for a water feature no problem, but not a pond. Reason being, water features do not need heaters or filtration and can be either in or on the ground. Bear in mind that as it will be outside, and all surfaces exposed to the sun, it will not be long before the water...

You can make a ring out of airline and infuse it with a sucker attach it furthest corner, it should contain then

I have an Aqua nano 100l tank. This a sump kind of filtration system built in the back. I have to keep the output flow reasonably fast to keep the circulation going as it’s quite deep and also due to my bamboo shrimp Bertram. I run a oase crystal skim for the endless biofilm that plagues my life...

Working abroad, never left comes and goes like many others

Hiya guys, Just wondering, I have an old fish tank that I won’t be using for anything and I wanted to know if it’s possible to set up a small outside pond type thing with it? If it is would I need filters? Heater? Would it need to be dug into the ground? Just wondering if it’s possible as I’ve...

They're saying its fine

Yeah I am not getting them again

Welcome :)

Why did Clive leave anyway?

Which chelates are you using now and how many ppm of iron are you dosing?

The front line is too straight , wood looks cool, good luck 👍🏻

Glass etc needs tidied but thought some of you may be interested to see how it's developed. I think I can finally say I have a jungle tank :)

I contacted Oase to try and get some info for us if the pump cover has been changed, if so, what does the updated unit do differently, will update when/if I get a response.

Viv Aqua one compared to CO2Art, much smaller, I'm using them in my 60 Shallow all the way through to my 90cm tank as I think they look much neater due their size :)

So you advice not do or what

Hi all, You honestly don't need to worry <"How much does light effect the growth of "beneficial" bacteria?"> & <"Diane Wahlstad and biofiltration making plants suffer and causing algae?">. cheers Darrel

Ya just a money plant or a anubias my worries is will the hob exposed to open light will it affect the bio bacteria

Hi all, Perfect, so kept in a bioreactor after "construction". This might offer some clues: <"Tim Hovanec's "Nitrification in marine aquarium" article">. Original article at <"https://www.drtimsaquatics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Nitrification-in-Marine-Aquaria-3-parts-CORAL.pdf">...

Great idea, plants in hobs work a treat. Keeping them in check is the problem..

Hi guys this is Naren I just need your advice that is I have a 30cm cube with cherlam hob and I have a filled them with seachem matrix for bio development my question is if I keep there cover opened will the bacteria in that will be affected because I have planned to place a small plant in that...

There is a bit more info here: About us | Real Reef Rock. In reef speak, live rock is basically the equivalent of getting a sponge filter from a running tank. It should be pre colonised by bacteria. Dead/dry rock is rocks that's been out the water or other conditions that aren't conducive to...

...for a reason, and that reason is to put you off the scent? In fact I'm going to say the farmed bit is actually <"made from farmed Oyster shells">* edit, it isn't, it is the time the products spends <"maturing in a bioreactor">. Ok, that just means it is made from calcium carbonate (CaCO3)...

Welcome! :wave:

Artificial rock is, I think, fairly standard now in the marine hobby. However, it makes aquascaping rock look cheap! Here's an example of what's commonly used: Real Reef Rock | Decoration | Charterhouse Aquatics it It's also shaped with 'scaping' in mind. A lot of the live rock 20+ years ago...

Sorry he didn't make it. It looks like an injury that was infected. Otos can be quite sensitive sometimes. Was he new - usually if they make it a few months they do well. Your tank is very small for Otos - I know they are often recommended singly as 'clean up' but they are actually shoalers so...

I purchased a rimless ND aquarium about 4 years ago, silicone wasn’t the best. Although a lot of people I know have purchased from them and have had zero issues with quality.

Hi wa What was the silicone joints like, were they tidy or rubbish like clearseal?

I had an ND Aquatics tank as a marine setup a few years ago. In my opinion the quality was very good but their delivery service lacked somewhat. They deliver to the roadside so you need help getting it in and located where you want it.

I just recorded a video of the tank with the new lights. I also have some underwater video coming soon that I thought was pretty cool. Yeah it made a huge difference. I was looking at my video and compared it to MJ aquacapings video and wow. I wish he got to see the tank under this nice...

Hi all Has anyone used acaquatics or ndaquatics and are their silicone work any good, ive used aquariums4life who make great tanks but take an eon making it so want to try someone else? Thanks

basically i don't ever really have a green drop checker, its blue, I just inject a slow rate of co2, and gradually adjust the light period until it equalises. Once the plant mass grows in, algae is minimal with good flow, and regular water changes. I'll try and get a pic of my tank i'm...